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African Americans: College Majors and Earnings
The document discusses the educational achievements and earnings of African Americans, highlighting their concentration in lower-paying college majors despite increased access to higher education. It notes that African Americans are underrepresented in lucrative fields like STEM, health, and business, with those in related majors earning substantially more than those in fields like art or psychology. The report emphasizes the importance of career planning for African American students to avoid potential financial pitfalls and to strive for better-paying job opportunities.
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Highlights disparities in college majors for African Americans vs. job market demands.
African Americans gained ground in social sciences, psychology, and health since 2009.
Earnings differ significantly; STEM majors can earn 50% more than arts-focused degrees.
12% of Bachelor’s holders in psychology and social work; 5% in high-earning architecture and engineering.
Overrepresentation of African Americans in low-earning community service majors.
Career planning is vital for African Americans to avoid debt and secure better-paying jobs.
Contact details and resources for more information on the topic.
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African Americans: College Majors and Earnings
- 1. African Americans: College Majorsand Earnings Anthony P. Carnevale, Megan L. Fasules, Andrea Porter, Jennifer Landis-Santos February 9, 2016
- 2. Overview • Access tocollege for African Americans has increased, but African Americans are highly concentrated in lower-paying majors • African Americans, who represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, are underrepresented in the number of degree holders in college majors associated with the fastest-growing, highest-paying occupations— STEM, health, and business
- 3. Since 2009, AfricanAmericans have gained ground in social sciences, psychology and social work, and health
- 4. Earnings vary greatlyamong college majors • African Americans who earned a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM related major, such as architecture or engineering, can earn as much as 50 percent more than African Americans who earned a Bachelor’s degree in art or psychology and social work
- 5. Architecture and engineeringis the major group with the highest median earnings for African Americans with a Bachelor’s degree
- 6. Majors and earnings AfricanAmericans account for 12 percent of all Bachelor’s degree holders who majored in psychology and social work, and only 5 percent of architecture and engineering majors
- 7. African American representationis low in the fastest-growing fields African Americans who majored in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences and administration have the highest median earnings at $84,000
- 8. National top tenmedian earnings for African Americans with Bachelor's degrees
- 9. African Americans tendto be overrepresented in low-earning majors Majors associated with serving the community, including human services and community organization (20%) and social work (19%), are highly represented
- 10. Conclusion • Careful careerplanning is especially crucial for all African American students to help them avoid debt and underemployment later in life • African Americans who choose majors in well-paying, growing fields are likely to be better positioned to get higher paying jobs, acquire less student debt and nurture future generations
- 11. For more information: EmailUs | cewgeorgetown@georgetown.edu Follow Us on Twitter | @GeorgetownCEW Find us on Facebook | Facebook.com/GeorgetownCEW Follow us on LinkedIn | linkedin.com/company/georgetowncew See the full report at: cew.georgetown.edu/africanamericanmajors